Ice cream vendor gripe sparks mobile food van review

A complaint from a Halls Creek ice cream vendor, who was forbidden from selling ice cream in residential streets, has exposed major flaws in the local shire's mobile food van policy.

Ice cream van driver Basiriun Sianipur complained to council about the policy, which prevented him from stopping his vehicle when people waved him down in residential areas.

"So I was suffering for a few years, I stopped operating and I wrote a letter to them and said, 'you have to look into this and review it again'," he said.

He says the existing rules crippled his business.

"So I said that's not fair because I'm not even allowed to go into the oval. Anywhere in Australia, the ice cream van they [are] operating and then when people wave they stop," he said.

Upon initial review, the council realised the policy also prevented the sale of food not deemed 'nutritious' such as sausages, fairy floss, sweets and soft drink.

"The council at the time the policy was reviewed did not want mobile food vans going into residential areas but with all policies there are unintended consequences," shire CEO Warren Olsen said.

Council says it will now review the policy.

Source: ABC News, 29 October 2012